Understanding
Part Two - The Dance
By Cimerene
cimerene@gci.net

Previously on ER (alternative reality that is)
John kissed Kerry. Slowly leaning towards her, he reached out with his left hand, and gently touching her face, kissed her.

When they finally parted, Kerry watched John with a slight smile on her face. “Well?” he finally asked a silly grin on his face, “I know I need a breath mint, don’t I?”

Kerry’s giggle was infectious, soon both were laughing, their laughter young and giddy. She reached out and gently moved an erring lock of his hair out of his eyes, “No” she said shyly, “you DON’T need a breath mint.”

With that comment the giggles started all over again. John watched her, completely at ease for the first time in weeks. He smiled as he watched her blush. (Dam) she thought, (I’m worse than a teenager tonight.)  “I forgot to eat, I’m starved, how about you?” John gave her a naughty smile, and was quiet. She blushed again, “FOOD”, she gasped, “I meant for food” Giving her another naughty look John replied “why so did I” Kerry laughed, a lighthearted laugh, a laugh that John knew very, very few people knew about. “Of course you did.” 

She took a good grip on her cane, and pushed him towards the kitchen. “Let’s see what I have in the house.”

She opened the fridge, “hmm” John leaned over her shoulder, thinking how wonderful her perfume smelled, like a spring bouquet of exotic flowers.

Kerry exhaled deeply, (dam he smells so good), blushing again at her random thoughts, she stared hard at the contents of the fridge. It looked like a hodgepodge of old science experiments gone awry. “Well, hmm…” She was quiet for a moment.   “I’ve got it, you set the table, and I’ll come up with a last minute gourmet meal for two.”

John, looking deeply into her eyes and kissed her briefly and said as he turned “As you wish, Are the plates still in the china cupboard, or did you move them?”

Kerry rooted around in the fridge another moment before replying. “Yes,” she said “just watch out for the painting by the cupboard, it’s still a little wet”.  

John picked up the painting that had been set next to the china cupboard, and asked her “Kerry, is this new?  I don’t remember seeing it last time I was here”

Kerry (who was still thinking of how good looking he was and trying to keep her mind off of his kiss) was just barely concentrating on fixing dinner for them said, “yes, I finished it day before yesterday. I started on a different view of the lake today; it will be a few days before that one is finished. This one just needs to dry and to be framed.” 

“Wow” John replied “this is incredible” The scene of a nearby lake was done in exquisite colors, looking more realistic than he would have thought it possible to make. Each color blended into the other perfectly. He could actually see individual grains of sand on the beach. “This must have taken a lot of your time” he grimaced, remembering just exactly why it would take so much of her time.

Watching his face, Kerry replied quietly, “Not really, since I’m on a forced holiday, I decided to put it to good use” She briskly changed the subject, “there’s wine in the fridge, you want to grab it for me?”

*********20 minutes, and several glasses of wine later**********

“Kerry”, John said looking at her, “those were the best Tuna Fish sandwich’s I’ve ever eaten.” Kerry was relaxed in a way she never thought she would. Tuna fish sandwiches may not be a gourmet treat. But if you place it on your best china, it sure does look interesting. John noticed that Kerry’s giggle had increased with the amount of wine that she had drank. Indeed both of their laughter had flowed more than either one would have thought possible when the day had started. He wondered if indeed it had been the wine, he felt that they were both drunk on the others presence. Both were quiet, listening to the music of the Judds playing softly in the background. And thinking quiet, but for a change nice thoughts. 

“Dr. Weaver,” he said quietly, after a few moments of silence. “May I have this dance?”

Listening to the words of the song that was playing. She smiled softly and said, “Of course, Dr. Carter,” Kerry lay her cane down on to the nearest chair, and placing both of her small hands into his, glided across the living room floor with him.

Both for the first time in ages were at peace, both with each other and with the music they were listening to deep in their hearts.

Dance with me darling till dawn, 
I want to sway in your arms, till the star's fade away.
Fade away.

Moving together as one, 
Till the first gentle rays of the sun, light up the day. 
Light the day.

And as while the music still plays.
Please let me hear you keep saying.
Over and over, I’m falling,
Falling in love with you.
Say there’s no way I could lose you
Hold me tight,
I’m falling in love tonight.

Touch me and tell me its true, 
That I’m not asleep, 
And that you are not just a dream.
Just a dream. 

Here with your heart pressed to mine, 
We flow like the river that winds its way to the sea.
To the sea.

And while the music still plays.
Please let me hear you keep saying,
Over and over, I’m falling, 
Falling in love with you.
Say there’s no way I can loose you, 
Hold me tight I’m falling in love tonight.

Say there’s no way I can loose you, 
Hold me tight, I’m falling in love tonight.

Hold me tight, I’m falling in love tonight.

End of Part Two

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at cimerene@gci.net